#11
Looking out my winder so very dreary
puts muh mind on better times.
When such weather hailed the return of gawd in fungi form springing about in the shitty storm.
Then when young I dressed myself in khaki loathing the blue jean swarms, a short hair cut had I and glasses thick.
Pulling on a heavy sweater I ventured out into the weather, before the cops and after the thugs
Carrying naught but but a haversack and a reptile catcher perhaps a wire cutter from the army navy store
Into the pastures of the very best I ventured looking for snakes and birds and cow shit
The snakes, the birds, they come they go, but cow shit... after a rain is for evermore.
Often I saw nothing, but rain and cows, but on occasion I saw tits in shit.
And that made all the difference.

That was a long time ago. Things were different then, brain damage wasn't permanent gas was cheap.

[REUTERS] French and Malian troops fought Islamists on the streets of Gao and a boom-mobilewent kaboom! in Kidal on Thursday, as fighting showed little sign of abating weeks before La Belle France plans to start withdrawing some forces.

Rootersnews hounds in Gao in the country's desert north said French and Malian forces fired at the mayor's office with heavy machineguns after Islamists were reported to have infiltrated the Niger River town during a night of kabooms and gunfire.

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told a news conference in Brussels that Gao was back under control after festivities earlier in the day.

"Malian troops supported by French soldiers killed five jihadists and the situation is back to normal," he said.

In Kidal, a remote far north town where the French are hunting Islamists, residents said a boom-mobile killed two. A French defense ministry source reported no French casualties.

French troops dispatched to root out rebels with links to al Qaeda swiftly retook northern towns last month. But they now risk being bogged down in a guerrilla conflict as they try to help Mali's weak army counter bombings and raids.

"There was an infiltration by Islamists overnight and there is shooting all over the place," Sadou Harouna Diallo, Gao's mayor, told Rooters by telephone earlier in the day, saying he was not in his office at the time.

"They are black and two were dressed up like girls disguised as women," a Malian soldier in Gao who gave his name only as Sergeant Assak told Rooters during a pause in heavy gunfire around Independence Square."And might I compliment you on the luxuriant growth of your mustache, miss?"
"I'll bet you say that to all the girls!"
Six Malian military pickups were deployed in the square and opened fire on the mayor's office with the heavy machineguns. Two injured soldiers were taken away in an ambulance.

French troops in armored vehicles later joined the battle as it spilled out into the warren of sandy streets, where, two weeks ago, they also fought for hours against Islamists who had infiltrated the town via the nearby river.

Helicopters clattered over the mayor's office, while a nearby local government office and petrol station was on fire.

A Gao resident said he heard an kaboom and then saw a Malian military vehicle on fire in a nearby street.

[An Nahar] Two Tunisian police were maimed in an exchange of gunfire with presumed Salafists...Salafists are ostentatiously devout Moslems who figure the ostentation of their piety gives them the right to tell others how to do it and to kill those who don't listen to them... on Thursday in Sidi Bouzid, the cradle of the country's uprising two years ago, a medical source said.

The shooting took place when police after a chase cornered four gunnies in a mosque in the center of the town, which is a stronghold of the ultra-conservative Mohammedan group blamed for unrest around the country.

An interior ministry front man said only one policeman had been hurt.

An Agence La Belle France Presse correspondent said that earlier, the four men had refused to stop their car at a checkpoint in Sabbala, a town north of Sidi Bouzid. Instead, they forced their way through, exchanging fire with police in an incident that caused no casualties.

He said police and soldiers were on Thursday night surrounding Sidi Bouzid's Rahma Mosque.

[An Nahar] Tunisia was scrambling to find a replacement prime minister on Thursday and pull itself out of a major political crisis two days after Hamadi Jebali quit after failing to form a cabinet of technocrats.

The consultative council of Ennahda was to meet later to choose a successor to Jebali, the ruling Islamist party's number two, who ruled himself out following suggestions that he might be reappointed premier.

Jebali resigned on Tuesday after his plan to form a non-partisan government, announced in the wake of public outrage over the February 6 murder of leftist politician and Islamist critic Chokri Belaid, was rejected by his own party.
Continued on Page 49

[An Nahar] One of the main Islamist gangs in northern Mali said Thursday it had sent fighters back into Gao, a city it controlled for nine months before French and Malian troops recaptured it last month.

[FRANCE24] Malian troops opened fire on the mayor's office in the northern town of Gao with mounted machine guns on Thursday to try to dislodge suspected Islamist gunnies holed up inside, witnesses said.

Gunfire and kabooms rang out in the early hours across the town, where French and Malian troops have been working to secure the area against bombings and guerrilla attacks by Salafist tough guys, witnesses said.

French and Malian military spokesmen were not immediately available to comment on what led to the clash.
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[An Nahar] The Tunisian authorities have incarceratedKeep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please! suspects in this month's liquidation of leading leftist opposition figure Chokri Belaid, the interior minister said.

"The investigation has progressed to the point that suspects have been arrested," Ali Larayedh told news hounds, without specifying the number of people enjuggedYou have the right to remain silent...
"The investigation has not led yet to identify the killer, those behind the murder and its motives," said Larayedh, refusing elaborate in line with a secrecy order.

Belaid, 48, was rubbed out at close range by a lone, hooded gunman as he left his home in the capital Tunis on February 6.

His family blamed the ruling Ennahda party for being behind the killing, an accusation the Islamists have vehemently denied.

The liquidation triggered days of unrest as people took to Habib Bourguiba Avenue, epicenter of the 2011 uprising that toppled ex-dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, deepening a long-running political crisis.

On the day of the murder, Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali proposed the formation of a government of technocrats as a way out of the crisis, but the initiative was rejected by his own Ennahda party.

[LEADERSHIP.NG] Jama'atu Ahlussunah Lidda'awati Wal Jihad popularly called Boko Haram... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality... has denied ever announcing a ceasefire.

On Wednesday morning residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital woke up to see pasted posters around mosques and in different parts of the city carrying messages from the leader of Boko Haram, Imam Abubakar Shekau which denied ever delegating anybody to discuss with the Borno State government on cease fire.

BBC Hausa service monitored in Abuja reported that some people in Maiduguri said they received some leaflets which were shared on Tuesday evening.

But the Borno State commissioner of information, Inuwa Buwala said that he was not aware of it even as he promised to investigate the incident.

It would be recalled that Borno State government earlier said it had reached a memorandum of understanding of a cease fire with the person that claimed to be Boko Haram front man.

[THISDAYLIVE] Seven persons alleged to have robbed some banks in Bauchi State in 2011 for the purpose of raising funds to support the Boko Haram... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality... sect were yesterday arraigned before a Federal High presided by Justice A. R Mohammed on a 13-count charge.

Also, about 20 Boko Haram suspects awaiting trial in Kuje Prison, in a bold move to register their grievances over the poor state of Nigerian Prison, yesterday protested their non-trial by the Prison authorities since last year.
Continued on Page 49

Two south Yemen separatists were killed on Thursday during clashes in Aden between police and members of the Southern Movement, a member of the group said.

The police fired on protesters from the movement, thousands of whom had gathered in the southern port city to demand independence on the first anniversary of ex-president Ali Abdullah Salehs ouster, Fathi Ben Lazraq said.

A rival rally was held in the same spot by members of the Al-Islah (reform) party, in support of unity.

[Bangla Daily Star] Police rounded up five activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir... the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh... for possession of a huge quantity of bomb-making materials and provocative leaflets in the city's Muradpur on Wednesday.

Acting on information, cops raided a three-storey building at Muradpur intersection around 10:00pm and incarceratedPlease don't kill me! the five, said Panchlaish police.

Law enforcers also seized 10,000 copies of leaflets and as many posters with provocative contents, 10 litres of petrol, five machetes and four cartons of bomb-making materials.

Yesterday, two cases were lodged with Panchlaish Police Station in this connection.

In the afternoon, police sent the five to jail through a local court.

Mohammad Shahidullah, additional deputy commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (North), said they have information that thousands of activists of Jamaat-e-Islami...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... and its student wing Shibir are making preparation to carry out destructive activities across the port city demanding release of several top Jamaat leaders who are facing trial for committing crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.

Police have been conducting drives in the city to avert any untoward occurrence, he added.

Mexican Army units with the 10th Military Zone have been conducting counternarcotics operations in remote mountain Durango municipalities since at least February 1st, according to Mexican news accounts.

According to a news account which appeared on the website of El Siglo de Torreon news daily, Wednesday soldiers detained four unidentified suspects who were observed wearing military uniforms. Reports are unclear where in Durango the detentions took place

Separate operations in San Dimas and Tamazula municipalities seized quantities of weapons. The contraband was seized in the villages of La Lajita in Tamazula and Tayoltita in San Dimas.

According to a news article which appeared on the website of El Siglo de Durango news daily last week, on February 16th an army unit seized quantities of weapons and cash in an undisclosed location in Durango state, detaining three unidentified suspects.

Among the contraband seized were three rifles, four weapons magazines, 64 rounds of ammunition, one rifle scope and one vehicle. The total amount of cash seized is MX $30,720 (USD$ 2,409.96).

Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com

For a map, click here. For a map of Coahuila state, click here. For a map of Durango state, click here.
Photos of the aftermath of three of the incidents can be found here.

By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com

A total of five police agents in the La Laguna region of Mexico have been shot to death and another two were wounded Thursday afternoon, according to Mexican new accounts.

A news item posted on the website of Proceso news weekly said that four of the five dead police agents were killed on the Durango side of La Laguna in three separate incidents.

Two unidentified police agents with the Gomez Palacio, Durango transit police were shot to death near the intersection of calles Morelos and Urrea. A second incident took place minutes later on Bulevar Miguel Aleman near the Museo Francisco Sarabia museum against a sole police agent.

The third incident took place near the intersection of Calzada Lazaro Cardenas near the qtechnical school Centro de Estudios Tecnologicos, where a transit police agent was shot to death while directing traffic.

A fourth incident took place on Bulevar Guadalupe Victoria, which ended with an unidentified police agent wounded.

The fifth police agent was killed in Torreon in Coahuila, but no details have appeared in Mexican press regarding that incident.

A man was found stabbed to death in an incident characterized as an execution Thursday. Francisco Javier Ramirez Aldaba, 23, was found at a residence in Ejido El Vergelito stabbed in the chest and abdomen.

An unidentified man in his 40s was found tortured and strangled to death on Avenida Hidalgo in Oscar Flores Tapia colony in Torreon in Coahuila Wednesday night.

Meanwhile in other security news, the Durango state Fiscalia General del Estado (FGE) or attorney general announced Thursday that a total of nine unidentified suspects were detained by security forces. Security forces seized drugs, guns and vehicles.

A number of weapons were found when a Policia Federal (PF) road patrol stopped two men who were travelling aboard a Dodge Neon sedan. Inside the vehicle, PF agents found one 0.30 caliber rifle, one 0.22 caliber rifle, one 9mm pistol, one 9mm Lugar pistol, one Uzi type pistol and one 0.22 caliber pistol. Four weapons magazines were also seized in the traffic stop. The two detainees were identified as Javier Becerra Gallegos and Omar Becerra Gallegos, both 25 and from Ciudad Lerdo, Durango.

Three more suspects were detained for alleged attempted robbery. They were identified as José Martin Chavez Hernandez, Juan de Dios Garcia Navarro and Maria Guadalupe Rubio Rodriguez.

All nine suspects were transferred to the Centro de Readaptacion Social (CERESO) in Durango city.

The La Laguna region began formal security operations named Operativo Laguna only last week, in which Mexican federal security forces including the military and Policia Federal units along with Coahuila and Durango state police units would maintain patrols in the region, especially in the absence of 158 police agents who had been dismissed or who had quit the police corporations in Gomez Palacio.

That reduction in force in La Laguna had left the region with very little local police presence until the Mexican XI Military Region agreed to coordinate police activities in the region.

A separate news story posted on the website of El Siglo de Durango Tuesday said that about 100 naval infantry effectives, the equivalent of a rifle company had been deployed at the Expo Feria, or fairgrounds in Gomez Palacio to assist in security operations. It was reported earlier this month that Mexican marine units had arrived in the region to assist with security, but this latest news is the first of an encampment.

At last report, the Mexican Army was answering 066 telephone calls, Mexico's emergency number. It was also reported by Mexican press in a security incident earlier in the month that army marine and state police units were being combined for the purposes of patrolling the region.

Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com

[Dawn] Five people were bumped off in the city on Wednesday, police said.

They said that a young man was bumped off in Orangi Town.

They added that gunnies riding a cycle of violence targeted Mohammad Aamir, 29, who was also on bike at Nishan-e-Haider Chowk, Sector 11½, within the remit of the Orangi Town cop shoppe.
Continued on Page 49

Three Thai terrorists militants who claimed they had been hiding in Malaysia and confessed to being involved in the insurgency surrendered to authorities on Thursday, saying they believed promises they would get fair treatment. The three terrorists insurgents were named as Rosalee Masa, Mahadee Durae, and Arwae Leelawae. They are all from Tak Bai district in Narathiwat province.

The terrorists insurgents said they decided to turn themselves in because they were tired of always having to hide from the authorities. They went into hiding in Malaysia five years ago.

Mr Rosalee said he had wanted to surrender for a long time, but had no opportunity to do so. He said, "I'm glad that I'm back home to live with my family again, because it's hell having to live in hiding, and there's no other place where I can live happily and free like in Thailand. I'm sorry for the things that happened in the past but if the authorities will give me a chance, then I'm confident that I'll receive fair treatment."

He said 27 other terrorists insurgents who were living in Malaysia would also probably return to Thailand and surrender soon, but they were not yet completely convinced they would be treated fairly.

The Tak Bai district chief said he would do anything to reassure those who have been misled by the insurgency leaders and encourage them to turn themselves in. He said, "It's time to open up our hearts and offer an opportunity and promise of fair treatment to those who have been misled. If all sides cooperate in developing the southern border provinces, sustainable peace and happiness will return to the region."

[An Nahar] Iran has begun installing next-generation equipment at one of its main nuclear plants, a new U.N. atomic agency report said Thursday, five days before talks with world powers, as the United States described such a step as "provocative."

"On 6 February 2013, the Agency observed that Iran had started the installation of IR-2m centrifuges" at the Natanz plant, the ineffective International Atomic Energy Agency report said.

"This is the first time that centrifuges more advanced than the IR-1 have been installed" at the plant in central Iran, it said.
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[An Nahar] Syria's main opposition group, the National Coalition, denounced as "terrorists" those behind a deadly boom-mobileing in Damascus...Capital of the last overtly fascist regime in the world... on Thursday, regardless of who carried it out.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the Coalition stressed that "any acts targeting civilians with murder or human rights
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[NY Times] At least three boom-mobiles roiled Damascus...Capital of the last remaining Baathist regime in the world... on Thursday, including a powerful blast near the downtown headquarters of Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-AssadLord of the Baath...'s ruling party and the Russian Embassy that witnesses said shook the neighborhood like an earthquake. Antigovernment activists described the bombings as some of the worst to hit the Syrian capital in the nearly two-year-old conflict and said at least 72 people had been killed, mostly civilians.
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.

Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.

Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.